Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Warren leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Warren
Warren, MI
Pros
53% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $66k less ($169,300 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,235)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Income
$1,193
$61,633 vs $60,440/yr
Warren
Violent Crime
53% lower
541.8 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Warren
Median Home Value
$66k less
$169,300 vs $235,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $61,633 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 86.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Warren leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Warren wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Houston to Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $169,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Warren, MI are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.